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As implants become more popular, many articles in the scientific literature are confirming what
patients and implant dentists have known for years. Did you know that:
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“Over the next 30 years, the number of edentulous individuals over the age 65 will
remain constant at around 9 million.”
“Approximately 10% of USA adult population is completely edentulous (without
teeth).”
“Over 50% of mandibular (lower jaw) dentures have problems with stability and
retention.”
“Fewer implants and a removable denture (overdenture) offer a less complex and
expensive option for an edentulous patient.”
“Mandibular overdenture treatment can show significantly improved retention and
stability compared with conventional dentures.”
“Cost effectiveness of dental implants generally provide a more favorable treatment
than significant endodontic (root canal), periodontic (gums) and/or prosthetic (crowns
& bridges) treatment.”
“Implants have a significant positive influence in maintaining alveolar bone (bone
supporting teeth).”
“2 implants with O rings in the denture is the method of choice because patients can
receive the same benefit for less expense and complexity.”
“Independent O ring attachment deliver less stress than bar-clip attachment.” |
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From articles
“Mandibular Implant Overdenture Treatment”, Jour.CDA, Nov, 2000, Vol 90, #1
“Congenitally Missing Laterals”, Oral Health, Jan, 2001, Vol 67, #1
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are medically pure metal devices that are placed into the
jawbone and act as an anchor to provide a solid base for artificial tooth replacement. They are usually
made from titanium or one of its alloys. In many instances, the metal implant is coated with a synthetic
bone called hydroxylapatite. Hydroxylapatite has been shown to form a quicker, stronger band with
bone than that found with titanium.
Implants can secure a crown to replace one tooth, a bridge to replace several teeth or replace a full upper
or lower denture.
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| Replace one tooth |
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Replace several teeth |
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Replace a full upper or lower denture |
Missing teeth are unsightly, adversely affect your personal
relationships, your ability to get a job and your
promotion within a company. If you do not replace
your missing teeth, the neighbouring teeth will migrate,
tip and eventually require removal due to gum
disease.
Many people replace their missing teeth with partial
dentures. Unfortunately, over one half of all people
who wear a removeable denture are dissatisfied with it.
Many of these people do not wear their partial denture
but leave it in their dresser drawer. Some partial
denture wearers also and that their neighbouring teeth
decay more quickly.
Most removable partial dentures require a cross-over bar
for lateral support, either across the palate in the upper
jaw or behind the front teeth in the lower. Implants can
eliminate these bars drastically reducing the bulk of the
partial denture.
For those people who want to have something fixed into
place rather than removable, there is now an effective,
inexpensive, permanent and successful way to correct
these problems called Dental Implants. They fit solidly
into the jaw to provide a solid base to attach a permanent
crown or fixed bridge. The procedure usually takes about
30 to 45 minutes in the dentist’s office.
New Hope for Denture Wearers
Many people who wear lower dentures complain that their
dentures “slip”, “are loose”, “hurt”, “food and seeds get
trapped under the denture”, “cannot eat lettuce, cabbage
or tomatoes” and “ cannot talk or laugh without fear of
their dentures slipping out. To counteract these problems,
many of these people use an adhesive to hold the
denture in place.
Complete dentures are usually held in place by suction.
Suction is directly related to the amount of healthy, firm
gum tissue and underlying bone available in the jaw. Once
teeth are extracted, 40% to 60% of the bone surrounding
the teeth shrinks within two years. Over time, the shrinkage
progresses, the height of the ridge decreases and the
degree of suction with the denture is reduced. This lack
of bone adversely affects the function of the denture and
the ability of the person to eat properly. Because of the
shrinkage, the mouth will constantly change and the dentures
(including partial dentures) need to be replaced or
relined every five years or less.
What Are My Options/Choices?
Bone loss after extraction of teeth can be prevented. At
the time of extraction, a non-resorbable, synthetic bone is
placed into the extraction socket. This procedure promotes
quicker bone formation and maintains the bone. It
is relatively inexpensive, simple and painless to perform.
It is an option about which any patient contemplating
extractions should be advised.
If you have already had teeth removed and lost your alveolar
bone, the only options available until recently was to
build up their bone height by the placement of hip and rib
bone grafts from the patient to their jaw. These techniques
were expensive, painful, complicated, time consuming and fraught with problems.
Over the past 10 years, a new technique has become available
which is simple, successful and cost effective. The
technique consists of the placement of two dental implants
in the front part of the lower jaw. Simple rubber “O Rings”
are placed into the denture and the denture “snaps” onto
the implants. Implant attached dentures do not rely on
suction but are mechanically attached to the jaw.
How Are They Placed?
The procedure during which the implants are placed is
equivalent to that experienced with the extraction of several
teeth. The implants are placed in the dental office, under
local anaesthetic, in a procedure lasting from 20 minutes
to less than one hour. After placement, the implants are
allowed to heal undisturbed for four months during which
time the patient is allowed to wear their adjusted denture.
After the 4 month period, the denture is adjusted, the rubber
O rings attached to the denture and the denture “snapped”
into place in the patient’s mouth.
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| Two implants with O ring abutments in mouth |
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Two rubber O ring in denture |
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